An area of ancient wetland in County Durham that has been restored with the help of funding from London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is now seeing wildlife return to the area.

Restoration of The Great North Fen is a long-term project to restore grassland, fens, ponds, and wet woodland to a site near the River Skerne in southern County Durham.

Located just north of Darlington station and visible from LNER services along the East Coast Main Line, Ricknall Carrs has historically been an area of wetland since the ice age.

The area was drained in the nineteenth century because of the need for agricultural land, which led to the loss of natural habitats dating back thousands of years.

It was not only the local wildlife that was affected, but the drained areas exposed lowland peat which emits carbon as it degrades, contributing to global climate change.

Durham Wildlife Trust, which is managing the restoration of the area, successfully applied to the LNER Customer and Community Investment Fund (CCIF) for funding to help restore the agricultural land, and to establish the Great North Fen Habitat by reseeding grassland, planting new wetland plants, restoring hedgerows, and providing new pond environments for invertebrates.

These would in turn attract breeding birds and mammals such as otters and water voles back to the area.

Jim Cokill of the Durham Wildlife Trust Director said the work funded by LNER is the first step in delivering the vision for the Great North Fen, an area of wildlife-rich wetlands, woodlands and farmland that could extend over 850 hectares.

Partners like LNER are helping to deliver nature’s recovery at a landscape scale and creating better environments for wildlife and people.

In January this year, the Customer and Community Investment Fund made a grant to Wag & Company, a charity in north-east England with over 370 volunteers who give an hour or two a week with their dogs to help reduce social isolation and loneliness for elderly people who no longer have a dog of their own because of mobility or health reasons.

In 2024, London North Eastern Railway received over 470 funding applications from charities and good causes based within 15 miles of its route from London to Scotland for grants from its Customer and Community Investment Fund.

“The Great North Fen restoration is such an inspiring project and is closely aligned with our own aims of being better for people, places and planet. Restoring these habits not only benefits the wider environment, but also the local community, with new volunteers getting involved to help restore nature. LNER is incredibly proud to support Durham Wildlife Trust in its ambition to bring this area back to its former glory.”

Rachael Wilson, Community Investment Manager for London North Eastern Railway